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THE 



Wm 



A Centennial Offering to the Cause of 
— TEMPERANCE. — 



0. W. WHITE, A.M., 

WEYMOUTH, OHIO. 



" Slavery, at the summit of its power, comes into poor com- 
parison with this mothei" of abominations." 



WADSWORTH, OHIO: 

STEAM PRINTING HOUSE, 

1876. 



I 



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THE 



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h 



A Centennial Offering to the Cause of 
TEMPERANCE. 



BY 



0. W. WHITE, A.M., 



WEYMOUTH, OHIO. 



" Slavery, at the summit of its power, comes into poor com- 
parison with this mother of abominations." 



WADSWORTH, OHIO: , I^S 

STEAM PRINTING irOt>§E,' 3/ y^ . 

1876. 



JlD.l^^ 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by 

O. W. White, in the office of the Librarian of 

Congress, at Washington. 



INSCEIBED 

i TO THE 

Woman's Christian Temperance 
UNION, 

MEDINA COUNTY, OHIO, 

WITH RESPECTS OF THE 

AUTHOR, 




oniniaa 




O'er all the fallen world, in every ^tate, 
There reigns an evil of dimensions great ; 
Deep-seated evil, and of fearful power, 
Fruitful of untold trouble every hour ; — 
A common curse of desolating swaj^, 
Hell-born, long-standing, yet to pass away. 

O that I could the field of crime explore I 
O that I could but trace the record o'er, 
And find persuasive words, whereby to show 
How to subdue this greatest Common Foe ! 
Language may try the subject to unfold, 
But find the task as fruitless as of old. 

Of all the evils which the world have cursed, 

The drinking evil ranks among the first. 

It brings earth's gifted sons of high repute 

Beneath the level of the common brute. 

What noble men, in the statesmanship realm, 

Once lofty and grand, like some stately elm. 

Have fallen, degraded, their glory gone. 

Just as began their highest manhood's dawn ! 

Alas I that man, with soul to be addressed, 

With thought far reaching, and with promise blest, 

With form commanding, dignified, erect, A, 



" Lord of creation," clothed with intellect, 
Born not to grope, but some high station seek, 
Should prove, to ends of his creation, weak ! 
Having an outfit for exalted place. 
Should sink, a maudlin slave, to deep disgrace ! — 
Should lose his status, fall from great to least, 
And reeling, rank himself with creeping beast ! 

No cruel tyrant ever held a sway 

Of wider range or more extended day 

Than one in question — dominant o'er all, 

Defiant of danger, fearless of fall. 

No famine ever swept more lives away, 

No business gave to Satan greater prey. 

Than liquor traffic, followed for its pay. 

The fruitful cause of death by suicide. 

And instigator of dark crimes beside. 

No cruel spoiler on his foaming steed 

Surpassed this spoiler in his frightful deed. 

No lustful robber e'er in ambush lay 

And did more mischief after close of day. 

No savage monsters ever broke their lair, 

Discharged their threatening voices through the air, 

And woke such dread, solicitude, alarm. 

As monster Bum, prolific cause of harm. 

No maelstroms ever swallowed victims down 

Faster than liquor maelstroms in a town. 

No black tornadoes ever caused more dread. 

No bloody war been followed with more dead. 

No epidemic on its mission sent. 



Has troubled hearts to such a wide extent. 

No cruel tortures introduced by Spain, 

When Inquisition bore its bloody reign, 

Outrivaled this in giving mental pain. 

No sea disasters, caused by wind or fire, 

E'er sent forth lamentations louder, higher. 

No earthquake shock, with deep and rumbling sound, 

Startleil more hearts, sent more dismay around. 

No crater ever belched its lava tide 

With more destructive power far and wide. 

No hidden force more weakened human will, 

No beverage more effectual to kill. 

No pois'nous dram, investigation saith, 

Invites disease which leads to surer death. 

No slaves impelled in more degrading path, 

Than cringing slaves to this vile tyrant's wrath. 

No exile has been more divorced from good, 

No outcast's sorrows better understood. 

No heart more withered, beastly, ugly strung, 

No words more silly flowed from human tongue. 

No path more full of sorrow, trouble, woe, 

Than that whereon established drunkards go. 

No darkness, ever brooded o'er the soul, 

Can equal that arising from the bowl. 

No madness, ever introduced to view, 

Is more intense in all its demon hue 

Than what is called " mania a potu " — 

Most frightful madness mortal ever knew. 

No coffers filled with more unlawful gains, 

Nothing begets more mischief on the brains, 



8 

No wealth e'er purchased at a dearer rate, 

Ko grief overwhelms the soul with greater weight. 

Collect death-feeders, woes of every branch ; 

Add to the list the fearful avalanche ; 

And weighing them against the common one, 

The beam falls quick to show them far outdone. 

No greater evils since the world began 

Have preyed upon the fallen race of man. 

And who his sire ? The Prince of nameless foes, 
His tireless aim to human weal oppose ; 
The flesh his mother, of much ill possessed, 
The seat of passion — her insatiate breast. 
And where his home ? It stretches o'er the earth, 
Disdaining rest in place that gave him birth, 
Demanding room with undiminished strength, 
Craving dominion over all, at length, — 
Most potent Enemy, heartless and deaf, 
Blind to all misery, dead to all grief. 

O that in this, our Centennial 5'ear, 

There could, regardless of favor or fear, 

Be shown forth one picture, dark though it be, 

Plainly, distinctly, for all eyes to see I 

A wonderful nation, growing and great. 

Priding itself in its goodly estate. 

Proposes to show what genius has done. 

Since an existence the nation begun. 

But, with all its showing, could it but show 

What many would fain be not pleased to know. 



9 

Just the bare facts which cover the ground 
Of the curse in question, everywhere found, 
From the gazing world would come a deep sigh ; 
Its cheek would be crimsoned, moistened its eye. 
. While samples of wine and liquor are shown, 
Would their effects on the country were known ; 
The figures plain-draw^n,the misery told 
Felt by our nation a century old. 
Such an exhibit might lead the world on 
To a moral grandeur never yet won ; 
But truth may notalways wisely be told : 
Material good the world would uphold : 
Exhibit in that line, overlook the bad. 
Be grateful to God, be thankful and glad, 
Introduce nothing to quarrel about ; 
'Twill riin much smoother with Temperance out. 
This pleases liquor men, ready to shout, — 
" Let Madam Crusade pursue her own way, 
While we gather money in our favored day. 
Though thousands complain and give us hard name, 
WeVe paid for this work, and we're not to blame. 
WeVe carried the Board, and given large pay. 
That Drink King may reign with unquestioned sway." 

Thus grandest assemblage world ever saw, 
Beholds a rejection of well-known law. 
And many deplore the national sin, 
Which strong love of greed allowed to come in. 
That such a disgrace should just now betide 
A nation so great in time of its pride, 



10 

Be sanctioned, endorsed by competent men, 

Clothed with authority, should it have been ? 

We pray the dishonor, the grievous wrong, 

Starting abreast with the century along, 

Maybe overruled, its influence stayed, 

Charity govern, and blame be not laid 

To whom were committed the puzzling task, 

To satisfy all in what they might ask. 

O curse of the land ! O desolate tide ! 

When shall the fountains which feed thee be dried ? 

When shall the trafhc in drink be denied ? 

When, at behest of the passion for gain, 

Shall courage appear, the Right to sustain ? 

When shall the people rise up in their might, 

And banish the wrong forever from sight ? 

When shall the flow of the death-tide be o^er, 

And Order go seeking a home no more ? 

When shall the morn of the century dawn, 

And find all helps to intemperance gone ? 

Alas ! that Heralds of the cross complain 
Of self-denying labors spent in vain 
On heathen lands in Afric's sunny vale. 
Where Christian ( ?) liquor finds a ready sale ! 
Alas ! that tribes should savage more become, 
And faster disappear because of Rum ! 
Alas ! that Christian nation does not see. 
And own the guilt and inconsistency, 
In shipping ofi*men to some foreign home. 
In vessels ladened with Xew Encfland Rum ! 



11 

Does such befit a nation of our birth, 

Ranking so high 'mong nations of the earth ? 

Can Christian influence raise and purify, 

Can grace above renew and sanctify 

A heathen country groaning under sin, 

When, to their evils, greater one comes in ? 

Shall prayer be answered that, o'er sin -cursed earth, 

All souls may come to know a sacred birth ? 

O Thou who alone our strength canst renew ! 

Grant all the help, which they need to subdue 

The Common Evil, humanity's foe, 

And direful curse to the nations below. 

Shorn of all power to tempt souls to sin. 

Or hinder Truth from its mission to win. 

Of all the devices ever got up 

To lead to the love of iniinous cup, 

" Stomach Bitters '' stand high, all will agree, 

Who carefully view the subject to see ; 

Or, passing the highways, read from the fence, 

*^ The Poor Man's Bitters for twenty-five cents." 

But drugs they contain, to speak of I'm loth. 

And move that we call them, " The Devil's Broth.'' 

Another help to intoxication, 

Generally known throughout the nation, 

Comes from the apples which grow on the farm. 

Never created to do any harm. 

But through man's invention, carried to mill 

Of the man who wishes nobody ill, j 



. 12 

And perverted to^cider, giving joy 
To moderate drinkers and floating boy, 
"Who eagerly seek the great tempting tub 
As a hungry man would seek for his " grub/' 
They drink the rich juice, so harmless and sweet, 
By common consent a beverage meet ; 
Take generous draughts, free of cost, each hour, 
Calling it sweet when it gets to be sour. 
At length, a viper crawls in, without sight, 
And leaves there a poison, making men " tight/' 
And yet they deem it more pleasant to take, 
While growing an appetite hard to break. 
If strong drink be raging, all should beware, 
Lest new-born cider become a great snare. 

A greatly favored, licensed class seem they 
Who vend strong drink upon the Sabbath-day. 
While sober people enter chapel doors. 
And busy tradesmen gladly close their stores. 
Giving no entrance to their quiet floors ; 
While thrifty farmers stay their noisy mowers, 
And tired boatmen lay aside their oars. 
The liquor-sellers have their comers, goers, 
And keep their business moving as by right, 
From early morn till far into the night. 
When lawful callings pause as by request. 
Then comes the time for these to do their best. 
No other avocation pays so well 
(What other sends men faster on to hell ?) 
Yet for the profit which the work affords, 



^ IS 

Though killing more than ever were by swords, 

Is much pursued — a strange thing under sun, 

And, what is stranger, licensed to bo done. 

If drinking-houses, on the Lord's day, close, 

** 'T will lead to riots," so the rumor goes. 

But after drinking, riots oft succeed, 

As lawful offspring from their parent seed. 

If all the prate and clamor brought to bear 

By those who, in the traflB.c have a share. 

Were treated like some false, deceitful dream, 

What quick contempt might end their sordid scheme ! 

Dark crimes are often headed, " Good intent ;'' 

Licensed impurity is claimed, well-meant. 

To soften sin, and have it no abuse, 

Or cover o'er the wrong with some excuse, 

As did our Parents when they made a plea 

For eating fi-uit from the forbidden tree, 

Can not avail in our day more than then ; 

No plea can pass for selling death to men 

On any day, and chiefly day of rest. 

For man appointed to be truly blest. 

But, to pervert this day to pleasure's end. 

Many much prefer, rather than defend 

Its sacred objects, and the right maintain. 

They seize it, too, as day for sordid gain. 

Nine-tenths of all the liquor drunk and sold 

To customers, mechanics, young and old. 

Is sold in holy time, soon after pay. 

When thousands quick their earnings fool away ; — » 

Men who imagine comfort in the bowl ; 



u 

Who, worn and weak in body and in aoiil, 

Yield to the spoilers who lie wait for them, 

To gain their money, but themselves contemn. 

With lighted gas, attractive pictures, show, 

These will bring customers to hand, they know ; 

Something to please the eye, delight the ear, 

Afford some pastime, give to heai't a cheer, 

Excite some pleasure, healthful flow of soul 

(Alas ! what names are given to the bowl.) 

Drown sorrow, waken joy, drive care away. 

And give to mirth and jollity their sway, — 

This will bring in their victims by the scor«, 

And gladden much their hearts, e'en to the core. 

They mark their victims, keep a little shy 

Of all Crusaders who go passing by. 

Learn who are fond of whisky, beer, and gin, 

Then lay their plans to coax the drinkers in. 

They seize their game as if it were no ill, 

And drop the stolen money in their till, 

Ready to thrust their victims from the door 

When time comes round for them to earn some more. 

Or, what is kinder, keep in some side closet 

To sober them, while they go to deposit 

Their gains in bank, dishonest gains indeed, 

Due to the drunkard's family in need, — 

Composed of wife and children wanting care, 

Pitiful, shivering under frosty air, 

With scant supply, their clothing thin, 

Their hut a most unsightly scene within ; 

Their soul wauts, social life, their prospects, pridQ^ 



15 

Neglected, most forbidding, mortified, 

Sent forth by turns through crowded streets to lie ; 

Misrepresent their case to passers-by, 

Awaken pity, and the means obtain 

With which more alcoholic drink to gain. 

Behold the evil, fearful in its sweep. 

Enough to cause the stoutest heart to weep. 

No language, at its best, can truly tell 

What comes from this vile beverage of hell. 

While the nefarious business, in its greed, 
Obtains bylaw the right to take the lead, — 
Maintains, 'mid all opposing force, its hold, 
It leads to crimes too flagrant to be told. 
Enriching those, 't is true, who choose to sell, 
But, with the drinkers, never can prove well. 
In soul or body, or whatever pertains 
To sober man in seeking highest gains. 

" The license money goes to pay expense." 
Ah ! that is offered as a mere pretense. 
Does liquor traffic any good support ? 
What crimes appear on calendar of court ? 
Whence come disasters, broils, thefts, murders, all ? 
What brings distress, and wakes the orphan's call ? 
Vf hy come the thousands in our prisons, jails ? 
What throng the journals with such horrid tales ? 
Whence comes the loss of reason, loss of sense, 
The loss ot honor, with its consequence ? 
Wh?it leads so many on to Ayant and sha^le ? 



16 

Go, ask saloonist — let him give the name. 

Or, trace from liquor-selling every ill, 

And, when you Ve done it, footed up the bill. 

Tell how much ought, to liquor, pass for credit, 

And whether aught remains to give to debit. 

The help which Alcohol gives any trade 

Is far outbalanced by the misery made. 

They say, " Each dollar gained for right to sell, 

Increases revenue ;'' but who can tell 

How many must be added to the one 

For taking care of all the mischief done ? 

And think, ye sober, toiling, honest men, 

Who loan your money out at rate of ten, 

Whether you like such kind of game to play, 

And have your valued treasures taxed away ; 

Whether you think the public good demands 

Support of liquor interestsat your hands. 

To offer crime a bonus, is no fun. 

And yet, such foolish thing is sometimes done. 

To make men drunkards, other men are paid, 

And when the tipplers all are helpless made, 

The License money for such kind of sin. 

Builds a Retreat to keep the drunkards in. 

There is an old maxim, probabl}" true, 

YouVe heard it no doubt — '' Give Devil his due.^ 

Now, which is the greater (what tongue dare tell T) 

The tempted to drink or tempted to sell ? — 

The one who gets muddled over his cup, 

Or agent who sells and will not give up? — 

The one who, made fit, performs spme mean scrape, 



17 

Or, tempter and fitter, left to escape?— 

The one who is drawn from himself away, 

Or one behind counter, baiting for pay ? — 

Which is the proper one sheriff to catch, 

If not the abettor, furnishing match ? 

This is a question oft settled by men, 

Yet 't is a question needs settling again. 

If Right once prevailed and justice were done, 

There 'd be many changes under the sun. 

The guilty who flee for refuge to law. 

Would tremble for safety, stand in some awe 

Of righteous decisions uttered by court 

Public opinion would gladly support. 

What annals of wrong at length will arise, 

Such as are winked at here by the wise ! 

Then it may seem not so proper and fit 

That any escape for crimes they commit. 

O ghosts of the murdered ! will ye not stand 

And charge home the guilt in league with that hand 

Which offers to half-crazed mortals, to sip 

The poisonous drug, nor feels the law^s grip ? 

Another half-century shall the good try, 

Rivers in<*tead of fountains to dry ? — 

The evils of drinking seek to abate, 

While those at the head keep raising the gate ? 

Ceaseless will fiow the great river of sin 

While license obtains to keep pouring in. 

While those who have gifts to serve in this war. 

Step not aboard of the Temperance car ; 

And people at large, do not rally round 



18 

The cause and principles known to be sound, 

Vain is the liope to Ivcep slaves from their cup 

While seller, their master, will not give up ; 

While beautiful signs, and temi3ting, prevail, 

" Pure Whisky, Old Rye, Gin, and Wines for sale ;'' 

While vineyards pervert their rich, purple fruit, 

To the kind of drinks which appetites suit. 

Whatever the evil, search out the cause. 

Then plan its removal by wholesome laws. 

A public opinion underlies law ; 

It calls for enactments having no flaw. 

It gave an expression, by vote, of late — 

" No License " henceforth should be in the State. 

What law, then, exists saloons to support. 

Should find a decision by Supreme Court. 

Saloons do appear in city and town, 

And the powers that be do not put them down. 

The secret, if known, perhaps w^ould lie here : 

Too many are deeply in love with beer. 

And so it goes round — " What can not be cured 

Should be let alone and simply endured." 

So, where a demand is, clear is the way 

To run a saloon in plain, open day. 

Grant it an outlaw, enough will go in 

And say to the keeper, " We'll help you win : 

We'll treat and be treated, so don't despair ; 

Provide for our pleasure — we^l pay the fare.'' 

And now, good citizens, what can you do 

But keep up your talk, and make much ado ? 

Well can they bear that, provided it's all. 



19 ^ 

'T is legal persuasion causes their fall ; 

Therefore the evil holds fast to its place, 

Provided i\iQ people bear the disgrace. 

It lives by their tolerance ; what follows then ? 

Look at this subject, professional men. 

Suppose that some felon, right in your sight, 

Should fire your dwellings, by day and by night; 

And, while they continue to blaze and burn. 

Should make the destruction serve his own turn ; 

Would you not saj^, " Let the villain be strung! 

Bring him to justice, and let him be hung " ? 

Yet 't is a question, who would dare smother. 

Which does most damage, this one or t' other? 

One destroys souls for the pay it affords ; 

The other destroys only shingles and boards. 

But, some may affirm, " Your reasoning is tame ; 

Your verse runs smoothly, but logic is lame ; 

The one who burns houses aims to do ill ; 

The one who drinks liquor, drinks of free will. 

The man who offers the poisonous fire 

Does it to gratify human desire. 

No one is injured against his consent. 

Which plainly disproves a criminal intent." 

Such kind of logic, which many declare, 

Appears very plausible, smooth, and fair ; 

But still the Evil continues to How, 

Having no father^ as they seem to show. 

Both burners are left before you to stand. 

Each having torch of destruction in hand : 

Both follow their business, and fill uj) tlieir purse; 



20 
Which, candid reader, do you think the worse ? 

If Lake Erie's waters were liquid fire, 
And, should the Almighty speak in his ire, 
Bidding the element roll o'er our State, 
The sorrows and death wails, who could narrate ? 
The waste might, at length, be peopled again, 
With thinking, reflective, and sober men. 
But ah ! this death-tide, how^ ceaseless it rolls, 
Bearing destruction to millions of souls ; 
Each beer-place a fountahi feeding the tide. 
Rolling on fearfully, constantly, wide ! 
Say not, " It comes from humanity's Fall,'' 
And, " Trail of the Serpent rests upon all." 
Measure the Evil — its dark leatures trace. 
End its dominion, and give it no grace. 

Good is not found in a liquor saloon 

As plainly appears as sun at high noon. 

There often assemble the fast and gay. 

Searching for pleasure, to Satan a prey. 

The untried youth, his mother's pride and care. 

Has watched his chances, careful stolen there. 

He hears the stories uttered by glib tongues. 

The roaring laughter from stentorian lungs. 

And, tho' his conscience whispers, '' Danger there," 

His mirth is fed with sometliing new and rare, 

And so he ventures to protract his stay, — 

Ventures, perchance, till graduation day. 

Uncommon scenes bewitch his curious eye ; 



21 

Says Tempter, as of old, " You will not die." 

He goes again, less timid than before — 

Familiar voices greet him at the door. 

New baits are set, he tastes them all by turns, 

Gets lower still, all aspiration spurns; 

In playing games of chance he owns no harm, 

It brings the liquor, this its greatest charm. 

Home offers no repose, no needful rest. 

While drinking, mirthful comrades, hail him — guest. 

To truest friends he grows secretive, dark, 

"Who trace upon his features Ruin's mark. 

He seeks a downward course, more reckless, blind. 

Thinking a stopping-place ere long to find. 

Vain thought! to appetite a fallen slave. 

Ere long to graduate at drunkard's grave. 

Many say, " I'll never drunkard die." 

Better to say, " I'M drink no beer," and why? 

The best and strongest weapon for defense 

Is, touch it not — be "Total Abstinence," 

Into temptation avoid being led, 

Nor look upon wine in the cup, when red ; 

Take no intoxicant, where'er you be — 

Leave it intact, and you can but be free. 

To talk, not c/o, is, one always may know, 

To be without help in meeting the Foe. 

Moderate drinkers once stood here content; 

But fell when tempted, their substance was spent. 

They felt tnemselves safe, while at pleasure's shrine, 

With others they tasted the tempting wine. 



22 

And grew, unawares, a little madder, 

Nor thought of the lurking, stinging adder. 

They rung out the plea deceitful, and swore 

They ^d be " moderate drinkers f drinked the more, 

And thus brought lower by each fatal quaff, 

More hoodwinked grew, yet all the while did laugh 

At others' folly who could not abstain 

And keep aloof from so vile demon's reign. 

Till, at the last, all ever dear was gone. 

No aspiration left, no sun of hope to dawn. 

Visions of early days fled slow away — 

The beauteous bride, once charming, gentle, gay. 

Now broken-hearted, dreaming of the past, 

When her fair lover pledged his love should last, 

The all-absorbing flame should constant burn, 

And well provide each comfort in its turn ; 

The bridal vow, henceforth, come best or worst, 

Should be as sacred held as at the first, 

Alas ! the early passion, love, no more 

Controls the madman, while intent to pour 

Down his demanding throat the liquid fire, 

To sink him lower, and increase his ire. 

And, while the poison pulsates through his veins, 

Come livid cheeks, and softening of the brains. 

Come dread diseases, horrors, failing health ; 

Come prostrate nerves and loss of hard-earned wealth. 

See here the moderate drinker, low, debased, 

Held fast in chains, his noblest gifts erased, 

Forgetful of all good, and left to think 

Of nothing save the dreadful, damning drink ! 



23 

Behold the servitude in which he stands, 
Grasping the cup with eager, trembling hands ; 
Longing for more, though penniless and wild, 
Snatching the bread from lips of famished child ; 
Stealing the Bible, or some bridal gift. 
Or costly jewel, all to make a shift 
For burning poison to allay his thirst. 
Increase his troubles, hasten on the worst. 

Hark ! there 's a midnight bustle in the hall ; 
A voice is heard, a frantic yell, a fall ! 
The ever true and faithful wife draws near, 
While horrid curses fill her troubled ear. 
Low lies the form of him who once loved home, 
The man a brute, a fiend, made such by rum. 
That noble heart, once tender, warm, and true, 
Seems lost to all the good it ever knew ; 
Seems robbed of the image which once it bore. 
And false to the heart which it loves no more ; 
Once free, but now slave, left only to think 
Of nothing aside from — " Give me a drink." 
She speaks to him kindly as years ago. 
When he chose to give kiss instead of a blow. 
Though Bum's ugly seals appear on his face, 
Marring the beauty which once gave it grace, 
To him she is true as on the bright day 
When bride she was borne from her home away. 
Though pallid her cheek, oppressive her lot, 
No glimmer of hope to cheer her dark spot, 
She clings to the wreck in faithfulness still, 



ff 

Always endeavoring her mission to filL 

She tenderly cares for the fallen once more, 
Who fell at full length on entering the door. 
Her tears bathe the form of her once true friend, 
With high-throbbing heart she essays to bend 
And wipe from his face the signals of shame, 
Declaring, " Dear Luke, I love you the same/' 
The past she recalls, of husband and wife. 
The joy which she knew in his sober life. 
One tear from her eye he never would start 
If the curse of drink lay not on his heart. 
Oh ! could he again from that curse be free, 
No dreadful ravings from his lips would be. 
Two hearts would again beat with hope, be glad, 
For 't is the wine-cup only made him mad. 

She prays her Father in heaven to send 
Relief to the fallen, her home defend ; 
Her children to pity ; to bring relief, 
And lift from heart its burden of grief. 
She prays that he would in mercy restore 
The victim of drink to himself once more ; 
That he so low fallen may yet be saved, 
The ruinous traffic cease to be craved ; 
She prays for that one who took, for his pay. 
The ring which love gave on her wedding day ; 
That, gift after gift, each pawned in his turn. 
Something might move him to quickly return. 
She pleads the destroyer may no more give 



25 

That which unfits one to die or to live ; 
No might increase the sorrows and fears 
Of children in want and children in tears. 
She prays that law might its function fulfill, 
Protect them from evil — save them, not kill ; 
Shelter the helpless,^the weak, and afraid — 
Banish the|cause whichiheir sorrows has made. 

When morning appeared he drew a long sigh, 

All haggard in look and sunken in eye, 

Acknowledged his fault^and owned the disgrace, 

"Wishing no liquor were sold in the place. 

With cramp in his limbs and pain in his bones, 

A horrible feeling he freely owns. 

He wishes he had just one drink of beer 

To set him all right and give him good cheer. 

He says to his wife, " I can not tell why, 

I feel very strangely— I'm weak, I'm dry , 

I have need of '^ Stomach Bitters " to-day, 

For I'm almost ready to faint away. 

He pledges to keep^within proper bounds, 

And not to indulge in usual " rounds." 

With promise so fair he seeks his old place, 

Only to copy his former disgrace. 

He finds his old chums as thirsty as he. 
Who drink, and declare they " mean to be free." 
Yes, free to take what the appetite craves ; 
To trifle with life, become sots and slaves ; 
Free to get beastly, to swagger, and fight, 



26 

Free to go staggering home every night ; 
Free to beat children, and free to scold wife, 
Free to forget the endearments of life ; 
Free to commit and to suffer for wrong, 
To waste away manhood, noble and strong ; 
Free to get ready for any dark deed 
To which the Deceiver has force to lead ; 
Free to drift on where the breakers await 
Such ruin of them as none can relate ! 

His faith is now gone, his reason nigh fled ; 

What once crowned him lord seems faded and dead. 

A maniac raving ! with eyes aglare 

At grinning demons round him everywhere. 

They come ! He sees them dance upon the floor. 

He runs ! they chase him round from door to door. 

He sees and shrieks at serpents on the wall ! 

They hiss at him ! he strikes them, one and all ! 

He cries for help, and seems in dark despair ; 

'T is only seeming, for there's nothing there. 

Behold once noble man bound fast in chains ! 
A gifted man, whose life was free from stains. 
A drinking man, just in the rapids now. 
The last hope gone, despair upon his brow ; 
A constant tempted man, of fevered frame. 
Calling for drink while tortured by the flame ! 
Longing for drink to weakened nature serve, 
Each draught a theft on forces in reserve, 
TUl no life forces more exist, at length, 



27 

From 'which"to draw or to recover strength. 
A helpless man, of smothered peace and joy, 
(Say, mother, say, is this your darling boy ?) 
A gazed-at man by every passer-by, 
Who grieves that one so gifted should thus die ; 
Should not the laws of life and health obey, 
But leap into the tide andfpass away ! 
A pitied man, a wreck, sinking apace. 
Just ruined, and about to end his race ; 
Fiend-goaded man, resolved to kill his bride, 
Then kill himself, and fall — a suicide ! 

O list to the warning, brother men all ! 

Let not such a record any befall ; 

Let " moderate drinkers '' hark to the call. 

The young and the old, the great and the small. 

Who drink i\\Q first glass with no fear of fall ; 

Who heed not the danger, but keep right on 

Drinking for pleasure, and drinking for fun ; 

Who strongly plead for a moderate use 

Of that which others so foully abuse. 

Who seem much surprised that any can be 

So false to themselves as never to see 

Their folly in drinking more than enough. 

When they know it makes them crazy and rough ; 

Who pity the drunkard, and call him " slave," 

Yet make their own coffin, dig their own grave ! 

Beware, then, all lovers of beer and wine ; 
When tempted to take some, promp% decline. 



28 

Look at the danger that cometh to pass — 
See the foul demon hid in the^r^^ glass. 
And the Lord help all the grand truth to cling, 
That, — a pure manhood is a priceless thing. 

May all erring souls who feel themselves weak, 

And desire some ground of safety to seek, 

Overlook not the source whence true help must come, 

And seek deliverance while there is room. 

Distrust human weakness, give it small place ; 

What is there to equal God's proffered grace? 

"Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess;^' 

" Be filled with the Spirit ; '' — here lies success. 

Many in vain try themselves to reclaim. 

They form resolutions, then break the same. 

Still others succeed, and victory gain. 

They find their appetites thoroughly slain, 

And honor ascribe to One over all, 

Afiording protection, saving from fall. 

To him we commend this branch of Reform, 

Beseeching his aid to endure the storm ; 

To labor in faith, in love, and much hope, 

Make use of right weapons, fairly to cope 

"With The Common JEJvil, till at the end, 

Precept and practice in harmony blend, 

Assured that Truth shall triumph ere long. 

And glad victors sing the conqueror's song, 

Our countr}^ redeemed, and loud Jubilee 

Arise from all lands delivered and free. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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